BETA

All’s Well.

The long night-watch is over ; fresh and
chill1
Comes in the air of morn ; he slumbers
still.2
Each hour more calm his laboured
breathings grew.3
“ O God ! may he awaken free from ill ;4
May this supreme repose dear life re-
new !”5
She rose, and to the casement came,6
The curtain drew, and blank, grey
morn7
Looked pitiless on eyes grief-worn,8
On the dying lamp’s red, flickering
flame,9
And, slowly through the wavering
gloom10
Searching out the shaded room,11
Fell on a form—the pillowed head12
So motionless, supinely laid.13
O, was it death, or trance, or sleep,14
Had power his sense thus locked to
keep ?15
She turned, that woman wan and
mild16
She gazed through tears, yet hope-be-
guiled ;17
He was her son, her first-born child,—18
Ah, hush ! she may not weep.19
Many a night, with patient eye,20
Had she watched him—sight of woe !21
Fever-chained, unconscious lie ;22
Many a day passed heavily23
Since met in glad expectancy24
Round the cheerful hearth below25
Young and old, a goodly show,26
To welcome from the wondrous main,27
Their wanderer home returned again.28
The father’s careful brow unbent.29
The mother happily intent30
That nothing should be left undone31
To greet him best ; the youngest one32
In childish, bright bewilderment,33
Longer, curious, to look upon34
Her own, strange sailor-brother sent35
Afar, before she could remember ;36
While elder sons and daughters
thought37
What change in the playmate un-
forgotten38
Time and foreign skies had wrought.39
Could he be like that fair-haired boy,40
With curly hair of golden hue,41
And merry-twinkling eye of blue,42
Whose tones were musical with joy ?43
For he had sailed all round the world,44
In China’s seas our flag unfurled,45
On Borneo’s coast with pirates fought,46
From famed spice-islands treasure
brought,47
Had been where the Upas grew !48
But the long June day was closing
fast,49
And yet he did not come ;50
And anxious looks and murmurs
passed.51
Some gazed without, sate listless some ;52
Down the hill-side, across the vale,53
Night-mists are rising, sweeps the
gale ;54
But nought can we see through the
gloom ;55
When, hark ! a step at the wicket-gate,56
And the brothers rushed out with
call and shout.57
Welcome, at last, though late !58
And round him hurriedly they press,59
And bring him in to the warm-lit
room,60
To his mother’s fond caress,61
“ But now is this ? dear son, thy lips are
pale62
And thy brow burneth, and thy speech
doth fail.63
Hath some sore sickness thus thy frame
opprest,64
Or sinkest thou for want of food and
rest ?”65
“ All’s well—I am at home ; but make
my bed soon,66
For I am weary, mother, and fain would
lay me down.”67
Even while he spake, he tottered, fell ;68
The heavy lid reluctantly69
Shrouded the glazing, love-strained
eye.70
They tenderly raised him ; who may
tell,71
What anguish theirs ? That smothered
cry !72
They bore him up the narrow stair ;73
They laid him on his bed with care ;74
On snowy pillow,—flower-besprent,75
(Ah ! for lighter slumber meant.)76
They knew some pestilential blight77
Lurked in his blood with deadly
might,78
And they trembled for the morrow.79
Thus in the smitten house that night,80
All joy was changed to sorrow.81
Yea, swift and near, the fever-fiend82
Had dogged the mariner’s homeward
way.83
One ocean south, one ocean north,84
The ship from red Lymoon sailed
forth,85
But fast in her hold the dark curse
lay ;86
In vain blew the cool west-wind.87
Week after week, he now, in vain,88
Had breathed his pleasant native air ;89
For still with restless, burning brain,90
He seemed to toss on a fiery main,91
’Neath a sky of copper glare.92
Under his window a sweet-briar grew,93
And fragrance his boyhood full well
knew,94
In at the open lattice flung ;95
The thrush in his own old pear-tree
sung.96
Young voices from the distance borne,97
Or mower’s scythe at dewy morn,98
Cock’s shrill crowing, all around99
Sweet familiar scent or sound,100
None could bring his spirit peace ;101
None from wandering dreams release.102
He heard an angry surf still thunder,103
Crashing planks beneath him sunder,104
Tumults that, ever changing, never
cease.105
“ Look, look ! what glides and glitters in
the brake ?106
Is it a panther, or green crested snake ?107
Ah ! cursed Malay—I see his cruel eye ;108
His hissing arrows pierce me ? Must I lie,109
Weltering in torture on this hell-hot
brine ;110
Not one cool drop my parching throat
to slake ?111
Jesus have mercy ! what a fate is mine !”112
Yet ever his mother’s yearning gaze,113
Saintly sad, was on him dwelling ;114
Could it not penetrate the haze115
Of phantasy, and, frenzy-quelling116
In heart and brain, soft-healing flow ?117
His sister came with noiseless tread,118
And, bending o’er the sufferer’s bed,119
Lightly laid her smooth, cold palm120
Upon the throbbing brow ;121
And with the touch a gradual calm122
Stole quietly, diffusing slow123
Sleep’s anguish-soothing balm.124
Pain’s iron links, a little while125
Relaxing, let his spirit rove126
In vision some Atlantic isle,127
Where waved the tall Areca palm ;128
Fresh breezes fanned, and gushing
rills129
Murmured, as in green English grove130
They, winding, deepen from the hills.131
And momentary smiled, perchance,132
Dear faces thro’ the shadowy trance,133
His unclosed eye saw not, though
near ;134
Dear voices reached the spell-bound
ear,135
His waking sense had failed to hear.136
Only a little space—too soon137
The fiery scourge, from slumber burst,138
Swept like the tyrannous typhoon,139
Gathering new rage, the last the
worst ;140
Till the pulse ebbed low, and life141
Shrank wasted from the strife.142
At length a dreamless stupor deep143
Fell on him, liker death than sleep.144
At eve the grave physician said :145
“ No more availeth human aid ;146
Nature will thus his powers restore,147
Or else he sleeps to wake no more.”148
Alone his mother watched all night,149
In silent agony of prayer.150
When dimly gleamed the dawning light,151
She thought, “Its ghastly, spectral
stare152
Makes his hue so ashen white,”153
But, when broadening day shone
bright,154
Froze to despair her shivering dread.155
None who have seen that leaden mask156
Over loved features greyly spread,157
“ Whose superscription this?” need
ask,158
Soft she unclosed the door, and said,159
“ Come,” in whisper hoarse and low ;160
And silently they came,161
One by one, the same162
Who had joyous met by the hearth
below,163
Only three short weeks ago.164
They looked, “ Is it life, or death ?”165
She beckoned them in, and, with
hushed breath166
Standing around, they saw dismayed167
That living soul already laid168
The shadow of the grave beneath.169
Kneeling beside his hope, his pride,170
Felled in youth’s prime, his sea-worn
son,171
Aloud the reverend father cried :172
“ Submissive, Lord, we bow ; Thy will be
done ;173
Yet grant some token ere my child
depart,174
Thy love hath ever dwelt within his
heart,175
And through the vale of darkness safe
will guide.”176
“ Amen, amen,” in faltering response
sighed177
Mother and children, watchers woe-
begone.178
O mournful vigils, lingering long !179
O agonies of hope, that wrong180
Solemn prayer for swift release,181
And the soul’s eternal peace !182
Now holy calm, now wild desire183
With sick suspense alternate tire,184
Till very consciousness must cease.185
Faint the reluctant hours expire ;186
The mind flows back ; as in a dream187
Trivial imaginations stream188
Over the blank of grief,189
Bringing no relief.190
Haply some sudden sound without—191
A sheep-dog’s bark, or schoolboy’s
shout,192
Or careless whistler passing near—193
May, unaware, pierce the dull ear,194
And feeble, mystic wonder wake,195
And straight the web of fancy break ;196
The awful Presence over all197
Hovering unseen, a brooding pall.198
“ O, look ! what change is there ? can
hope revive ?199
Lift his head gently, give him air——”200
——As drive201
Strong winds through a thunder-cloud,
and shear202
Athwart, on either side, its blackness,203
Sweeping the empyrean clear ;204
So, from the stony visage rent,205
Instantaneously withdrew206
The heaviness, the livid hue ;207
And the inward spirit shining
through208
Serene, ethereal brightness lent.209
His eyes unclosed ; their gaze intent210
No narrow, stifling limits saw,211
No aspects blanched by love and awe—212
Far, far on the eternal bent.213
Hark ! from his lips the seaman’s
cheer,214
Sudden, deep-thrilling, did they hear,215
“ Land ahead !” The words of welcome
rose ;216
Then he sank back in isolate repose.217
What land ? O say, thou tempest-tost !218
Whither hath thy worn bark drifted,219
Seest thou thine own dear, native
coast—220
Vision by strong desire uplifted—221
Britain’s white cliffs afar appearing ;222
Or art thou not, full surely, nearing223
That unknown strand, that furthest
shore,224
Whence wanderer never saileth more ?225
But hush ! again he speaks with sted-
fast tone,226
“ Let go the anchor.” Now, the port is
won.227
O happy mariner! at last,228
Ocean storms and perils past,229
Past treacherous rock and shelving
shoal,230
And the ravening breakers’ roll,231
Securely moored in haven blest,232
Thy weary soul hath found its rest,233
Touching now the golden strand !234
Before thee lies the promised land,235
To thy raptured eyes revealed236
(Eyes on earth for ever Sealed),237
Eternity’s reflected splendour238
Transfigureth the hollow brow ;239
And the shattered hull must render,240
Landed, the free spirit now.241
Wayfarers we, on a homeless sea,242
Bid thee not return, delay ;243
But oh ! one word of parting say !244
Sweet, solemn, full, those final accents
fell,245
Pledge of undying peace : he spake,
“ All’s well.”246
Yea, all is well ; that last adieu247
Opened Paradise to view ;248
While, on tremulous passing sigh,249
The happy spirit floated by.250
O’er mourning hearts in anguish
hushed,251
Effluence ecstatic gushed ;252
They saw Heaven’s gates of pearl un-
fold253
Paven courts of purest gold,254
The glorious city on a height255
Lost in distances of light ;256
Heard angelic harpings sweet,257
Voices jubilant, that greet258
New comers through the floods of
death ;259
Felt softly blow a passing breath260
Celestial, the winnowings261
Viewless of ethereal wings.262
This could not last for mortal strain,263
Transport sinking down to pain ;264
Yet a refulgent glimpse of Heaven,265
Never by cloud or storm-blast riven,266
Ray from love divine, shall dwell267
On all who heard that last farewell.268
Sweet, faint echoes, never dying,269
Of far homes immortal tell,270
Where sorrows cease, and tears and
sighing ;271
Still whispering : “All is well, is
well.”272
H. L.